Afternoon EST start means evening baseball here in CET. Let's go Yanks!

Wow, I had no idea the Yanks have now turned "The Core 4" into a money making venture.

2) The Yankees, money making? Nah, doesn't sound like them? Good timing too. Now that the dumb ass core four doesn't exist anymore.

The 'Tolo!!!

Let's go :

OK, Derek, that was sub-optimal.

Doesn't it sound fun when they say "Bartolo Colon is on a roll"?

So, is this the YES "C" team?

[8] Does the YES "A" team include Michael Kay? Because any group that includes him then I'd probably call that the "C" team.

[9] Hmm. Good point.

I don't get a chance to see too many YES broadcasts. I guess I meant "C" team in terms of name brand. So yeah, the 'A" team seems to include Kay and Singleton and (maybe) Cone. The "B" team is Leiter and O'Neill. But Flash and Lorenz are zeroes. I guess the regulars just don't like that west coast travel game.

This being said, Lorenz seems OK as a straight man. Flash is awful.

BUNT!

I kid..I kid..

No really, I wasn't kidding.

Gritty.

[13] And find his stroke again. Thanks for showing Francisco and Jorge!

[14] Where have you gone, Jesus Montero? A fanbase turns its lonely eyes to you...

I think Lorenz is dull but good. I prefer that to hyped up.

So far so good for Colon.

14

Much better, DJ.

Teix!

Aw, c'mon Tori, you should've dived into the stands again.

HR > DP

Nice AB by A-Rod, getting on base after Teix killed the rally.

There goes the perfect game, no hitter and shut out.

[23] ...and the lead.

This is not exciting baseball this inning.

I really do have an irrational dislike of Frankie Cervelli.

WOW!!!! FAK YEAH!!!!

Jesus Christ, Robinson Cano.

Fucking hell.

Great play by Cano!!

That was truly awesome.

[30] Phew. I saw (I think) that one or a few of your posts from the thread the other night were deleted. I was worried you got Rob Gee-ed.

*sigh*

Jorgie.

WTF JOOOOOOOOR-GEE!!!!!

DICK!

Aw geez Jorge, really? You're a 39 y.o. catcher, do not think about triples.

What is the matter with Po's brain?

Jorge's Dad needs to go old skool on his son again.

In Jorge's defense he did not make the first or third out at third...

[31] Thanks. Yeah, I was pissed and blew up. I felt needlessly antagonized.

Who's Rob G?

shit sox won...

jesus, jorgie...

Jorge, that wild pitch would have got you to third. Gardner's fly ball would have been a sac fly RBI. What have you done for me lately?

[37] Heehee. Indeed.

[34] This game, with the base running and DPs is starting to give me that bad feeling.

[38] you don't wanna know about Rob Gee!

anyone remember "Stormer Sports"?

[40] Gardner's fly ball would have been a sac fly RBI.

Hahahahhahahahaha.

No wait...you were serious...Po scoring on a sac fly?!

[43] Oh, yeah, I remember him.

[43] Only the name...not the persona.

[44] He did hit it deep enough, even for Posada, and that at least would be worth a try. No?

rob gee turned up on another blog at some point. might have been a comment on nomaas, or something, a few years back...

[48] I heard Rob Gee is a member of elite team 6.

[47] Yeah...I'm just being a smartass. Still, it is fun to ponder how Jorge could have screwed that up.

Is anyone still on the Yankees from when Abbott played for them? Probably not, except maybe coaches or trainers, huh?

[48] Speaking of NoMaas, it occurs to me that I haven't looked at that site in probably two years. It really went downhill, I thought, but when it was first up some of the graphics were clever and hysterical.

[51] Nobody from when Abbott last played is currently on the Yanks.

Nice, Teix.

The old down and in to the lefty.

Just in time for a Teix Message!
I was at a very boring party. My wife said we couldn't leave too early...

[43] I remember Stormer Sports.
Also Wsporter.

[56] no one asked you. HA!!! only joking (as far as you know...)

yeah, but Wsporter and Stormer had *completely* different screen personalities.

c'mon Tolo, keep the lead, my friend!

[57] Oh, I rarely wait for someone to ask me. If I did I'd never get to say anything!
I know, but they both had "sport" in their names, and they were around at the same time.

[56] [57] Yes, I remember. They did, didn't they?

boBBy still rockin' the .400 OBP.

borderline hall of famer right there...

These Angels can be such an uncooperative bunch.

[59] yes, i made that correlation, with their names...

how was the band the other night? did you bring earplugs, at my behest?!

[63] Ah, yes. Well. They weren't all that loud.

[61] Not a bad hitter, huh?

Of course, Wsporter didn't really have 'sport' as part of his name. He really had "William Sydney Porter" in mind. But it sure looked like 'sport'.

[61] Why'd we let him go, btw?

[66] Yes, I was going to point that out but I couldn't remember who he was.

[67] (That's not a rhetorical question, btw.)

[64] oh, that's cool. my ears are just sooo damn sensitive, i basically need 'em all the time. i have an appointment with my audiologist tomorrow. i'm afraid of my audiogram results... : ~

[67] Don't know, really. I guess the idea was to "get younger".
[68] You mean you can't remember who William Sydney Porter was? O. Henry.

Yes, and he barehanded it and fired while running away from first base.

It was an incredible play.

[71] Right, that's it.

[70] Damn. Too much bang bang bang, I guess, huh?

Posada why didn't you try for a second?

Go for two, Jorgie!

GODDAM IT. I would have been in there first, Dimelo, but "Slow down, you are posting too fast."

[75] Err: "for second" NOT "for a second"

Steal second Jorge!

[77] hahaha! Sure, will do.

[77] It's just that I'm SOOOOO excited, getting to watch a game and posting on the banter is something that work and life have conspired to steal from me.

[65] not a bad baserunner, either! 381 career SB's, with 10 already this year (against only 2 CS). i hope he reaches 400 stolen bags...

he has a career .885 OPS, with .400 and change OBP. he also has a .296 career AVG. he should end up with over 900 XBH, 1,400 Runs 1,400 BB & 1,300 RBI this season.

my main goal for him, of course, is to reach 300 homers, so he's part of my favorite 300-300 club (HR/SB). he'd be the 8th member. he's 22 homers away. he looked to be on his way, but his power has really dropped off this year. he's got only 2 so far. and let's hope it remains at that # throughout the day!

i'm not positive about his contract. i think he may have a vesting contract for another year w/ the halos. whatever it is, i hope he plays a few more years. he's stated that he'd like to...

[67] as far as letting him go is concerned... i think his contract was up, he was getting expensive and old. mainly, it was a defensive thing. he's pretty crappy out there. everyone gives him shit about being afraid of the wall and being a "bland" star, but i don't give a fuck. i love the guy; great fucking player and one of my absolute favorites! i was really psyched to have him in pinstripes for a coupla seasons. : )

[80] [81] No, I meant, that's what Wordpress told me, that I was posting too fast, so it wouldn't post my comment right away.

i think wsporter went to the same law school as shaun p, iirc. fellow dutchmen, or something...

we lost a lot of good regulars here from the initial move from the toaster. jl25&3, was another one. there was a newer guy from here - buck foston, methinks - who moved to a town about 40 miles from atlanta. i played there last night. didn't see a yankees fan, but there was a Penn State alum there! : )

[82] Thanks. Yes, that's what I remember too: expensive and old. It's a shame because he'd be a great player to have around, obviously. And yes, I was impressed to discover that he still steals bases.

Oh, hey, RI, it's your boy.

Great play Jetes!

ahh, the 'tolo falls a little short of the "quality start", but certainly not bad.

okay, D-Rob, let's get outta this with the lead! how bout adding $200 to the highsocksforhope fund right now!

[85] yeah, and he has that million dollar smile! he lived in manhattan, too. and never caused any trouble. stand up guy, boBBy.

funny to think, he came up with the Astros...

com'on D-Rob!

[85] It is. And he's not supposed to walk guys.
Come on, D-Rob, make me proud!

[88] He does have that million dollar smile! At least now we have Granderson, who has a billion dollar smile.

Cool he lived in the city. I like that.

(Kim also has a million dollar smile.)

Argh.
But this is the situation he loves!

Meanwhile, come on, Mr. D-Rob...you got this...

hooo boy.

D-Rob just settin' up his comfort zone! ; )

[92] kim has a million dollar everything! plus, she's a Penn State alum, also! too bad she wasn't at my gig last night. and too bad she won't be at Penn State in a coupla weeks, when i'm there...

Maicer, you just got D-Robbed!

Yes!

HIGH SOCKS!!!

[93] There you go!

[98] you been sittin' on that one awhile, huh?!

and, seriously, who names their kid "maicer"? at least it's better than asdrubul (ass dribble)...

[101] Indeed.
Maybe he should come right in and issue some IBBs, just to get him to that good place.

[102] Hm, looks like pretty much nobody names their kid 'Maicer'. Look at the first ten pages of Google hits.

Hey, I love Google's celebration of Richard Scarry's birthday today. I remember reading his books to my kids, so fondly.

[97] She is lovely, isn't she?

6:40am..too early baseball..need coffee..are we winning? Can't tell from this gamethread..mlb.com ahoy..grumble grumble..

[104] Do you remember the one with the aeroplane?

And I'm back to the Banter after having to cede the laptop for a while. This game really s-l-o-w-e-d down in the middle innings.

[106] mornin' to ya! yup, we're up 4-3, on the strength of Tex going BOOM, twice!!

[108] the game was waiting for you to get back! : )

huh. D-Rob back, after throwing 20+ pitches last inning. i hope no one told him the inning begins with the bases empty...

[107] Yes, this one, right?

[110] I'm sure he'll take care of that bases-empty-thing before the inning is over.

Oooh...Joe Girardi chessmaster.

[109] Wow, Teix has 18 dingers..the Yankees better get him on a bulk Teix Message Plan, Suzyn!

ok, i see, got a full inning outta the kid.

hopefully, joba's efficient at getting outs. take it all the way to Mariano, blessed be He!

[104] I had my dad read Busy, Busy Town every night. I'm sure he was sick of it, but that was how I learned to read.

lefty logan coulda done that and saved 6 pitches for Joba...

[115] I expect a Boone sighting at some point, probably a little lefty sandwich between Joba and Mariano.

[116] That and "What do people do all day?" I was entranced by Lowly Worm.

this is how i learned to read:

http://tinyurl.com/3rha8lo

Man, that was nasty.

Joba with a big K!

Nasty pitch.
But he won't be able to get more than an out in the eighth. Logan, for sure.

Nice, crisp inning.

[118] Oh yes. Lowly Worm.

[111] Yeah, that must be it. All I remember is that they all try to jam themselves into the plane and finally it bursts. I think it's the little worm guy who's the last straw.

Swish swat!

HR are our friends.

HR > not HR

swish! i shoulda typed it (as i called it here in my den. no really, i did!)

[125] Oh, I definitely remember that, yes. But not sure if it's the airport one. I believe the cat family had to take a plane to visit grandma once.
I did have them as a child, but I really remember reading them to my kids. It makes me very nostalgic.

And here comes Crazy Legs Jorge...

[128] As a general rule.

[132] Of course, there are exceptions to every rule. For examples, during a rally, we can safely state that:

HR < not HR.

Swish Alert!

[133] Quite right. BB >> HR, in that context. Obviously. Also, aesthetically speaking, a bases-loaded 2-out double is superior to a grand slam.
There are rare situations in which a successful sacrifice is better than a homer, but I won't go into those here. That's for a more advanced gritometrics class.

28 pitches already for joba...

[136] But has he thrown a complete inning yet? That's what is most important.

[135] my favorite is the double steal. especially, when there's only 1 runner on base!

[137] now he has! get him outta there!!!

[137] He has, actually.

I could go for a Noesi appearance. Yoik, not good.

[139] I just place my trust in the hands of the chessmaster.

Noesi, or Ayala, Ayala would be fine.

[141] And you were so right to do so.
My humblest apologies to the Chessmaster!

[140] So in the month or so that I was away, did Noesi become the eighth inning guy™? I ask that with only s bit of sarcasm.

DP! Yay!

[143] We are all pawns in his game.

So yesterday the Yankees starter went 8 2/3 innings (not an even eight INN). Today a reliever was used for five outs. I feel like I have been transported back to 1986.

[145] "Curses, the old GIDP, I kick myself for falling for that one. Damn you, Chessmaster!!!"

- Candidate Master Scioscia

Awesome!
I do believe Brett used his powers to bend spacetime ever so slightly...

Extra gritty.

[146] crazy that was a quarter of a century ago!!!

[148] Did you see the game where Swish squared to bunt on the first two pitches, took them for balls, then homered on the next pitch? With runners on first and second.
I think Cervelli should do that.

scioscia tried to use (meet kevin...) jepsen for more than 1 inning, even. the odds of that working out were, let's say, in our favor!

Plays.

I hate plays.

Brett Gardner has to be the fastest poor base stealer I have ever seen.

[151] talkin' to yourself again, huh? that must've been a *really* boring party this afternoon!

Not so gritty.

Gardner is the damnedest base stealin' fast guy I've ever seen.

crap on a conger.

154) YO!!!! lol

[154] Or the poorest fast one. But why does Girardi keep sending him? It's incomprehensible.
I guess no one will ever really understand... the Chessmaster.

Someone remind me what Cervelli is good at.

fuck. tampon has come back and taken the lead over the M's...

and i don't have a good feeling about the shit sox coming to town.

let's make sure we win this one, guys!!!

[155] Oh, uh, yeah. And I answer: Yes, I did see that game, and I remember it well.
(See, sometimes I do wait until someone asks me.)

[161] one-liners after a Yankee victory...?

In the Geico commercial voice guy:
"Would switching to Geico save you 15% on your car insurance? Is Francisco Cervelli a double AA baseball player?"

[163] very polite of you.

163) Shit Sox, Tampon, man you've got some vivid imagery for things you don't like. LOL

ah, crap. jete's gonna need 14 hits in 10 home games. in a normal year, that's a no-brainer, now - it's...not likely.

[164] That and he's infectious. Infectious, I tell ya.

I confidently predict that Mo will throw more than one pitch in this game.

[159] I know, right? :)

Oh, no.

I hate this shit.

Cripes Flash just says words upon words with no meaning. "Gotta give the Yankees pitching staff and bullpen credit today..." Isn't the bullpen part of the pitching staff?

[167] i think you mean me, not RI! oh, wait, maybe someone's comment is being held up in moderation and the #'s are off (not my comment!).

oh, those are *nuthin'*!!! and, really, the only thing i truly "dislike", is the Shit Sox. the rest, is just funny plays on words. i do it for everything, silly names. as far as baseball cities, you've got: Tampon, Philthy, Shittsburgh, Tex-ass, BallTumor...

: )

Sterling's home run call for Swisher went something like this...
THERE IT GOES! It's going to go foul......back.......twisting foul...........IT'S............. a homerun!
Yeesh!

[168] Hm, even in his best years Jetes doesn't average 1.4 hits per game. That's a very high average.

Put him away. He's Erick Aybar.

That's right.

THAT'S RIGHT.

You are Erick Aybar, so just sit down.

DAMN fuck shit damn.

Fucking hell, I have had enough of Abreu.

Mo..Oh No! I got to split in 5mins, please close this out!

[176] well, then it doesn't look like it's gonna happen at home. that'd be a shame.

then again, this is Captain Jetes and this is rather historic milestone. let's hope the baseball gods see it fit for him to go on a tear!!!

for me, i can't wait to see him achieve the milestone!

oh, boBBy.

now, for the DP and happy flight home!

That's the amazing thing, Abreu can steal and GArdner can't.

All Rise!

Mariano Rivera, ladies and gentlemen!

Pfew!

[179] watch your mouth! ; )

[177]seriously. let's just call him "-CK" (should just be a "c"!)

[182] Dude, you did it!

Yes! Happy Monday ahoy!

That' Robbie's good.

Thanks be to Mo.

Yay.

toldjya! : )

MO!!!!!!!!!

Yay! Good road trip by Yanks: 6 wins, 3 losses. And it could have been 8 - 1, no complaints by me. Good job! I wonder who we play next, anyone got any ideas?

ooh, and the M's come waaaaay back on Tampon. they're up by 3 again.

rays seem to be on the rag...

[187] did you ever doubt it?!

Happy: Yankees win.

Sad: It's probably a week before I'll be able to watch or listen to another game.

When is the next afternoon game?

[193] i heard it was the Scumsucking Shitbags.

how's that for colorful?! ; )

YES!

[195] I did. I was thinking, "Nah, Torii is fast and against Mo he won't hit it hard enough for a DP."

[196] next Sat & Sun. June 11,12. 1:05 games vs. Cleveland

in New York. where i'll be, but won't have any time to go to a game. or, sadly, even watch one...